Friday, April 19, 2013

Gallos' Six-Pack for Game 45: L.A. Kings

The Columbus Blue Jackets lost to the host LA Kings for the first time on this road trip tonight 2-1 breaking a 5 game winning streak. The teams came at each other pretty hard in the first period. In spite of it being a back to back for the CBJ, they seemed to have some jump in the first period. The Kings were showing why they were champs last year, and brought a lot of pressure on the CBJ. With a player for each team off for roughing, Dalton Prout took a hooking call, and in the ensuing 4 on 3 power play LA scored, and the period ended at 1-0 LA.

In the second period, LA came out pushing hard. In the middle of the period, the CBJ seemed to get some traction, and Blake Comeau forced a turn over in the LA zone. He sent the puck back to Prout, who scored his first NHL goal with a shot from the point, which may have deflected off a Kings player. Nonetheless, this tied the game. Unfortunately, LA came right back and scored within a minute and a half and restored their one goal lead. The second period ended with the CBJ down 2-1.

As the third period progressed, the Jackets brought more and more pressure, but they were unable to solve the Kings defense, and the Kings win 2-1.

1. My first cold adult beverage goes to Sergei Bobrovsky. How could it not? The CBJ are leaning hard on the young net minder, and he is answering the bell. The Kings got a goal in off a defenseman's skate and one that Bob did not see. What he could see, he was stopping. Incredible performances down the stretch here, no matter how things turn out.

Dalton Prout and Cam Atkinson in Development Camp

2. My second cold beer goes to Dalton Prout, who scored the first goal of his NHL career to represent the total scoring by the CBJ. Prout played a solid all around game, and benefited from a great pass by Comeau and a couple of deflections of his shot on the way to the net. He has been very solid since coming up from Springfield.

The Jackets have done a great job on this road trip, and I'm not about to start awarding skunk beers. But I do have a few thin, watery Natty Lights to pass out.

3. My third beer, a fine Natty Light, good for the waistline and all that goes to the defensive pairing of Savard and Erixon. Admittedly, this is a tough position for these guys to be in, but it seemed clear that they were not ready for playoff hockey, especially on the road. More development work in store for these two,and hopefully a big summer to get them more ready for next year.

4. My fourth beer, a tepid Natty Light goes to the power play. You can't do anything in the playoffs without a power play, and the lights look out on the power play. Its not a real threat.

5. My fifth beer, a warm flat Natty Light goes to the defensive effort after Prout scored the goal to even up the score. Guys falling down, a really half-hearted, glide up, wave your stick in the general area of the defenseman check by Gaborik which gave the time and space for the shot on the net that lead to the game winning goal. A little bit of pressure on that shot would have made a big difference, but that would require the feet to be moved.

6. My sixth, warm, found under the truck seat a year later, flat, Natty Light goes to Jeff Carter for being a big #Boomer. That's one of the privileges of passing out the beers!

Were the CBJ outworked? Meh. This is a really tough game on a back to back. They brought a pretty good effort considering the number of games they have played. The loss doesn't hurt too much, the Jackets are still in eighth place. It puts more pressure on the other games, but since they started the road trip winning three straight, they took the pressure off this game. But they still need to win some games down the stretch.

Ugh. Todd Richards just announced that Matt Calvert has a broken finger. He'll be out for awhile. Boone?

Next up the Sharks on Thursday. Another tough game, but a day of rest in between. They CBJ have to get some points.

Need a FULL EFFORT by 20 professionals on Sunday. S J will be loaded for bear. Don't expect to get any help from the great north as v'cover and e'm'ton have rolled over and played DEAD to the central lately, still, may be able to pull this off. 5 points in the last 3 STILL may get the boys to the party. I don't know about the rest of you out there, but as for me, it's been ONE H*LL of a ride and a VERY enjoyable team to watch the last 25 or so.No matter how this turns out, everyone at the 'Wide should let these guys know how proud we are of them.

If the Jackets get 5 points in the last 3, it'll give them the best point percentage in Columbus' history...It was good to see them give the Stanley Cup Champions a run for their money...now Jackets fans will have to root for LA...their next 3 games are against Dallas, Minnesota and Detroit...The Sharks will give the Jackets a tough time, too- their in the same position as the Kings, both fighting for that coveted #4 playoff spot...but the Jackets will be fighting for everything...

Even if the Jackets win their last 3 games, they can be eliminated if:1) Detroit goes 4-1 or 5-0 in their last games2) Dallas goes 4-1 or 5-0 in their last games3) if both Dallas & Detroit go 3-1 into the final game; their last game is against each other.The Jackets are playing great, but we still gotta hope for some losses by the Stars & Wings...